NORFOLK, VA--The 35th annual Stihl Soccer Classic begins this weekend, Sept. 10 and 12 with host
Old Dominion (2-0), West Virginia (1-1), Rhode Island (1-1) and William and Mary (1-0 ) at the ODU
Soccer Complex.
Action begins Friday at 4:30 with William and Mary against West Virginia, followed by the ODU-Rhode Island match at 7 p.m. On Sunday the teams switch up with Rhode Island playing W&M at noon, followed by ODU-West Virginia at 2:30.

The Monarchs captured the VCU Soccer Classic last weekend as sophomore Chris Harmon scored two game winning goals and was named the Tournament MVP. Jordan LeBlanc who scored a goal and assisted on another along with senior defender Adam Roscioli and freshman Ryan Oakes were named to the All-Tournament squad. Monarch senior goalkeeper Evan Newton (Virginia Beach, VA.) posted two
shutouts last weekend. ODU captured the Stihl Classic title last year and have won the event 12 times.

West Virginia is 1-1 after playing two top-25 teams. The mountaineers lost to 15th ranked Monmouth, 1-0, then defeated 17th ranked UNC Wilmington, 3-2. Freshman Alan Flott, junior Matt Drake and junior Franck Tayou have each scored a goal, while sophomore Uwem Etuk leads the team with two assists. ODU and West Virginia last played each other in 1991. ODU is 1-2-2 against WVU who last played in the Stihl Classic in 1983. West Virginia is coached by Marlon LeBlanc, the 2006 Soccer America Collegiate National Coach of the Year, now in his fifth year.

Rhode Island lost to Providence, 2-1, then defeated Bryant, 3-2 in the Ocean State Soccer Classic.
Sophomore forward Jamie Eckmayer, senior defender Dwayne Williams, a 2009 first team All-Atlantic-10 selection, and sophomore Thomas Lindroos have each scored a goal for the Rams. Lindroos
was a member of the Atlantic-10 all-Rookie squad in 2009. Head coach John O'Connor is in his fifth season at Rhode Island. ODU and Rhode Island have played twice with ODU winning both matches including the 2005 Stihl Classic.

William and Mary, coached by Chris Norris who is in his seventh season opened the 2010 season Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over Loyola. The Tribe return pre-season All-American and All-CAA senior midfielder Nat Baako, along with junior Alan Koger from last year's 13-5-1 squad which ranked 21st nationally in scoring offense. The Tribe last won the Stihl Classic in 2006.

The Tournament champion will again be presented with the Queen's Cup which was originally given to
Old Dominion University by the British Royal Navy in 1976 in honor of Queen Elizabeth.

The first 175 people through the gate will receive a complimentary Stihl Soccer Classic T-Shirt. There
will also be free food for ODU students which starts at 6 p.m. just outside the Soccer Stadium near
the baseball stadium. The winner of this year's Student Organization Spirit Contest will receive $500.

Tickets for the classic are $5.00 each day for adults, $4.00 for youth, senior citizens, military, and
ODU faculty staff. For more information, please call the ODU Athletic Ticket Office at 683-4444.